Tree-tapping apparatus.



G. M. VON HASSEL.

TREE TAPPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5, 1912.

Patnted Aug". 12,1913.

Z SHEETS$HEET 1.

G. M. V'ON HASSEL.

TREE TAPPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5, 1912.

Patented Aug". 12, 1913.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

1 imv GEORG M. voN I-IASSEL, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

TREE-TAPPING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12,1913.

Application filed September 5, 1912. Serial No. 718,659.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEoRc M. VON HAS- sEL, a citizen of Germany,residing at New York city, county and State of New York, have invented anew and Improved Tree- Tapping Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to an apparatus more particularly intended fortapping rubber trees, though it may also be used for drawing the sapfrom trees of a different character. By my invention, a plurality oftapping tools are consecutively driven into the bark in an automaticmanner to produce the wounds desired. In this way labor is saved andfurthermore the lapse of the proper intervals between the successivetaps is insured, so that the health of the tree is not liable to suffer.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectionpartly in side view of a tapping apparatus embodying my invent-ion; Fig.2 a horizontal section; Fig. 2 a detail of the ratchet mechanism. Fig. 3a diagram showing the mode of securing a plurality of tapping devices toa tree; Fig. 4 a vertical longitudinal section of a modification 0f theapparatus; Fig. 5 a similar section of a further modification; Fig. 6 adetail of the mercury cups shown in Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 an enlarged crosssection on line 77, Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1-8, the device comprises a frameor casing 10 which is open at the front to face the tree 11 to be tappedand is provided with a hinged back 12. Within casing 10, there ishouseda plurality of spaced cylinders 13 arranged below one another andsecured in an inclined position to the side walls of the casing by meansof bent straps 14:. IVithin each cylinder is free to play the shaft orplunger 15 of a suitable tapping tool 16 which is preferably made in theform of a chisel or cutting blade and is adapted to cut through the barkof tree 11. Each shaft 15 is subjected to the action of a strongadvancing spring 17 accommodated within cylinder 13 and bearing againsta collar 18 of the shaft. The latter is further encompassed by a cushionor recoil spring 19 located back of cylinder 13 and engaging a disk 20Slidable on the shaft.

Means are provided for holding shafts 15 in their retracted position andfor consecutively releasing such holding means so that the tapping toolsare driven by springs 17 into the tree at equal fixed intervals of say18 hours. These holding means comprise an upright rod or keeper 21stepped into casing 10 at 22 and slowly lowered by a clock work 23. Rod21 is provided with a number of transverse grooves 24 adapted to becomesuccessively alined with lugs 25 of shafts '15. The correlation of theparts is such that one of the grooves 24 is located above each of theshafts 15 and that the distances between the several grooves and shaftsincrease in arithmetical proportion. Thus, while one unit normallyseparates the top groove from the top shaft, two units separate thesecond groove from the second shaft, three units separate the thirdgroove from the third shaft, etc. The axial movement of rod 21 is sotimed that it will be lowered for the distance of one unit in a timecorresponding to one tapping interval. Thus the top groove will belowered into alinement with the top shaft in one interval say of 2 days,the second groove will be lowered into alinement with the second shaftin two intervals say of 4 days, etc. As each groove becomes alined withthe lug 25 of its shaft, such shaft will be released, so that thechisels 16 are successively driven into the tree by their springs 17 aswill be readily understood. Upon the advance of any one shaft, itsrecoil spring 19 will be compressed by lug 25, so that atthe cessationof the advancing movement, the tapping tool will become slightlywithdrawn from the wood to permit the sap to freely escape from thebleed hole and collect in a pan 26 driven into the bark beneath thetool.

Means are provided for automatically winding up the clock work by theadvance of the successive shafts 15. These means comprise a rack 27carried by the forward end of each shaft 15 and intergeared by miterwheels 28 with a common counter shaft 29 which in turn by wheels 30 isintergeared with the winding shaft 31 of the clock work. Thus by theadvancing movement of the shafts 15, the clock work will be wound upwhile the retracting movement of the shafts will not be transmitted tothe latter, owing to suitable intervening ratchet mechanism, interposedbetween each of the wheels and shaft This mechanism comprises aplurality of ratchet wheels 29 fast on shaft 29 and engaged by pawls 30pivoted to wheels 30.

To start the wound up and all the shafts 15 are retracted by handles 32fixed to the ends of said shafts, the latter being held in theirretracted position by means of lugs 25 abutting against rod 21. As thelatter descends, the shafts will. be successively released in the mannerpreviously described to bleed the tree at the predetermined intervalsand to simultanemisly wind up the clock work, so that the operation ofthe apparatus is automatic.

In Fig. is illustrated how anumber of my improved apparatus are fittedagainst different sides of ,a tree 11 and secured thereto by chains 33.

Fig. 1 shows further embodiment of my invention in which the successiveshafts 15 are adapted to be manually released consecutively from acentral station, By this construction, an operator is enabled to drivethe tapping tools simultaneously into a large number of trees atsuitable intervals. Here a central switch 34L operates a number ofelectric circuits 35 to attract the armatures 36 of eleetromagnets 37,each of which is by a catch adapted to release the spring barrel 38 of aclock work 39 pertaining to the tapping apparatus of a single tree.Clock work 39 when released imparts a rapid movement to rod 21 so thatby closing switch 34, corresponding tapping tools of all the devices incircuit will be simultaneously advanced. Thus by operating the switch,say once in every 48 hours, all the trees will be evenly tapped at theprescribed intervals.

in Figs. 5-7 a further modification is illustrated in which the clockwork is replaced by cups operating on the principle of an hour glass.Each shaft 15 has a notch 40 which is engaged by the bentforward end ofa lever t1 fulcrumed to a fixed sup port t2. Upon the rear end of eachlever 4-0 rests a cup 4L3 movably connected to sup port 42 by links {hiand adapted to contain mercury, sand or a similar easily flowing mediumEach cup 4:3 has a lower discharge orifice 46 adapted to be closed bythe headed upper end i? of a rod 48 that carries a float 49 movable inthe cup next below. Cup 4:3 is further provided with a lower by-pas's 50which is adapted to be closed by lever 4A..

In operation, the mercury to will initially flow from a stationary uppercup 51 through its by-pass 50 into the lower cup 6L3, the main dischargeorifice 46 of the upper cup being closed by head 47. Af er a certainapparatus, the clock work is quantity of mercury has thus beendischarged, it will rise to such a level in the lower cup as to liftfloat L9 and to thus open orifices L6 of the upper cup. In this way thebalance of the mercury will be rapidly discharged from the upper cupinto the lower cup, so that the weight of the latter will he suddenlyincreased to tilt its lever t1 and thus cause the latter to releaseshaft 15. By the tilting movement of lever 41, the by-pass of such lowercup is opened, so that the operationdescribed will be repeated for thecup next below.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a plurality oftapping tools adapted to enter a tree, and means for consecutivelyadvancing said tools,

2. A device of the character described, comprising a plurality ofspring-influenced tapping tools adapted to enter a tree, means forholding said tools in a. retracted position, and means for consecutivelyreleasing said holding means.

,3. A device of the character described, comprising a plurality ofspring-influenced tapping tools adapted to enter a tree, means forconsecutively advancing the tools, and pans beneath the tools.

t. A device of the character described, comprising a plurality ofspring-influenced tapping tools adapted to enter a tree, shafts carryingsaid tools, means for locking said shafts, and means for consecutivelyreleasing said shafts,

5, A device of the character described, comprising a plurality ofspring-influenced tapping tools adapted to enter a tree, shafts carryingsaid tools, a keeper, locking means intermediate said shafts and keeper,and means for actuating said keeper to consecutively release saidlocking means,

6. A device of the character described, comprising a plurality ofspring-intluencec'l tapping tools adapted to enter a tree, shaftscarrying said tools, a keeper, locking means intermediate said shaftsand keeper, means for consecutively releasing said locking means, andrecoil springs carried by the shafts.

7. A device of the character described, comprising a plurality oftapping tools, means for consecutively advancing said tools into a treeto form bleed holes, and auton'iatic means for partly retracting saidtools within said holes.

8, A device of the character described, comprising a frame, means forsecuring said frame to a tree, a plurality of tapping tools carried bythe frame, and means for consecutively advancing said tools into thetree.

9, A device of the character described, comprising a frame, a pluralityof cylinders mounted, therein, spring-influenced shafts engaging thecylinders, tapping tools carried by the shafts, a rod stepped into theried by the shafts, means for retracting the frame,means for loweringthe r0d,and lockshafts, and means for releasing the shafts. lng meansintermediate shafts and rod.

10. A device of the character described, GEORG M. VON HASSEL.

comprising a frame, a plurality of cylinders Witnesses:

mounted therein, spring influenced shafts FRANK v. BRIESEN,

engaging the cylinders, tapping tools car- KATHERYNE K0011.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). 0.

